``As a gesture of goodwill and as the first step (towards a compromise with the Duma) the President himself is ready to amend the law on the Government which would give the Cabinet more powers,'' Seleznyov told a news conference, citing Valentin Yumashev, chief of the Kremlin Administration, whom he had met earlier in the Duma.

Seleznyov gave few details of the possible amendments but said the prime minister would have a free hand in choosing ministers and there would be more guarantees for the Cabinet's immunity to outside pressure.

Yumashez and Selznyov met as part of bargaining between the Communist-dominated chamber and the Kremlin over Yeltsin's nominee for prime minister, Viktor Chernomydin.